International Community of Activists-Heros? No! Just Humans; Huwaida Arraf

Outstanding Human Beings

Every Person once in his/her life get touched by compassion, this feeling that it’s impossible to describe only can be felt. Love make miraculous manifestations in the life of individuals. Everyone that got involved some how in the peace process of our earth have felt it, the strike of light that it is leading us to a new road of understanding, of unity, where we all are awakening to our humanity.

We do not need to be heroes to act in our own behalf, because every deed we make in the name of Truth, Justice and Peace is for us all humans that share this beautiful blue dot of the Universe.

If you get the urge to help in any way, don’t waste that urge as time is running fast, and more you wait more damage is made against your brothers. We are an army of compassionate being, and we can achieve wonders if we unite for a common goal. There are special souls in this earth that are dedicating their entire existence to peace. Huwaida Arraf is one of those cases, she along with Ken O’keefe, Vittorrio Arrigoni RIP, Adam Shapiro, Rachel Corrie RIP, Patrick Macmanus RIP and thousands of others that crossed the world to go to Palestine to help in their struggles, they are not the only ones, but their deeds, their work make them outstanding individuals. The great nation of Palestine is a great example for us to follow, they all lived inside the storm of the occupation.

Life is short inside the occupied territories, as life is risky but if you follow your heart the risk is worth it. Stay Human is what we need to be an activists for Truth, Justice and Peace and to help Liberate Palestine. Remember the most powerful weapon is our humanity

Huwaida Arraf is a first-generation Palestinian- American. She was born and raised in Detroit, MI. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in 1998 with majors in Political Science, Arabic and Hebrew & Judaic Studies. Huwaida spent her junior year abroad, studying at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. After graduation, she worked for the Arab American Institute to promote the rights of Arab-Americans. In 2000, Huwaida became a Program Coordinator in Jerusalem with Seeds of Peace – an American-based non-profit organization focused on working with youth from regions of conflict, including the Middle East, Cyprus and the Balkans.

Huwaida left Seeds of Peace after becoming involved in active resistance to the Israeli occupation forces and policies. With other Palestinian and international activists, she co-founded the International Solidarity Movement in April, 2001. In April 2002, as Israeli forces continued their siege on the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Huwaida led a group of international activists to the Church to deliver bread and food to people trapped in the Church. She was arrested by the Israeli Army and forced to leave the country. She returned a month later and resumed her organizational role with the ISM. Huwaida has been arrested over a dozen times over the past four years by the Israeli military for nonviolent protest in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. In addition, Huwaida co-edited Peace under Fire (2004), a collection of personal accounts of ISM volunteers published by Verso Books.

Huwaida recently graduated from American University’s Washington College of Law. She is married to fellow human rights activist, Adam Shapiro.

International Solidarity Movement – The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is a Palestinian-led movement committed to resisting the Israeli apartheid in Palestine by using nonviolent, direct-action methods and principles. Founded by a small group of primarily Palestinian and Israeli activists in August, 2001, ISM aims to support and strengthen the Palestinian popular resistance by providing the Palestinian people with two resources, international solidarity and an international voice with which to nonviolently resist an overwhelming military occupation force.

Salem News – Independent Outlet that has partnered with Truth Justice and Peace to bring you the real News, as they happened without dressing or sugar coating, they have been working tirelessly to raise awareness, telling you as it is

Free Gaza Movement – Since August 2008, the Free Gaza Movement has sailed from Cyprus to the Gaza Strip on several successful voyages, bringing in international witnesses to see first hand the devastating effects of Israeli violence against the Palestinian people. Ours are the first international boats to journey to Gaza since 1967.
We are Italian, Irish, Canadian, Greek, Tunisian, German, Australian, American, English, Scottish, Danish, Israeli, and Palestinian. We are of all ages and backgrounds. We have years of experience volunteering in Gaza and the West Bank at the invitation of Palestinians. But now, because of the increasing stranglehold of Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine, many of us find it almost impossible to enter Gaza, and an increasing number have been refused entry to Israel and the West Bank as well.
We want to break the siege of Gaza. We want to raise international awareness about the prison-like closure of the Gaza Strip and pressure the international community to review its sanctions policy and end its support for continued Israeli occupation. We want to uphold Palestine’s right to welcome internationals as visitors, human rights observers, humanitarian aid workers, journalists, or otherwise.

The Electronic Intifada– The Electronic Intifada is an independent online news publication and educational resource focusing on Palestine, its people, politics, culture and place in the world.

Founded in 2001, The Electronic Intifada has won awards and earned widespread recognition for publishing original, high-quality news and analysis, and first-person accounts and reviews. The Electronic Intifada’s writers and reporters include Palestinians and others living inside Palestine and everywhere else that news about Palestine and Palestinians is made.

Protect human rights and promote the rule of law in accordance with international standards.

Create and develop democratic institutions and an active civil society, while promoting democratic culture within the Palestinian society.

Support all the efforts aimed at enabling the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights in regard to self-determination and independence in accordance with international Law and UN resolutions.